Damper assemblies



Aug. 23, 1966 JQSEPHSQN- ET AL 3,267,962

DAMPER ASSEMBLIES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 13. 1963 8- 1966 L. JOSEPHSON in. 3,267,962

DAMPER ASSEMBLIES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 13. 1963 V mantra/0H2?" Aug. 23, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 13, 1963 United States Patent 3,267,962 DAB HER ASSEMBLEES Louis .l'oseplison, New York, and Ho Chow, Yonkers, N.Y., assignors to Elgen Manufacturing (lorgn, Long Island City, NY, a corporation of New York, and Link-Age Corporation, Yonkers, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 264,934 16 Claims. (El. 137601) The present invention relates generally to fluid flow control devices and more particularly to damper assemblies used to control the flow of gas through a duct or conduit in which the damper assembly is housed.

Damper assemblies generally comprise a damper frame, usually of rectangular configuration; a plurality of damper blades, also usually of rectangular configuration; and means mounting the damper blades on the damper frame for rotative movement of the blades between closed positions in which the blades are aligned in substantially planar relation, in the plane of the damper frame, and open positions in which the blades are angularly disposed relative to the closed positions. The blades are generally connected by a linkage including rods connected by brackets to two or more of the blades in the assembly. Accordingly, rotative movement of one blade generally imparts movement to one or more blades through the bracket-rod-bracket linkage.

Damper assemblies of the conventional type described in the preceding paragraph require precision assembling of the damper blades so that the rotative axis of each is parallel to the rotative axis of those other damper blades to which a blade is linked. Furthermore, in conventional damper assemblies the damper blades are capable of being unintentionally rotated beyond a fully open, normally horizontally extending position, to a rotative position in which gas flow is partially blocked and in which there is binding among various components of the damper assembly. Moreover, in damper assemblies wherein more than two blades are connected together by a single rod, only damper blades of the same size can be used to avoid interference between the damper blades and damper rods and to permit all of the connected blades to be rotated between fully open and fully closed positions.

A damper assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention eliminates all the drawbacks of conventional damper assemblies, as described in the preceding paragraph, and includes, on each blade, a bracket having an elongated portion extending outwardly beyond an end of the blade. A shank or elongated element extends transversely from the elongated bracket portion at a location on the elongated portion disposed outwardly of the blade end. The shank is mounted on the elongated bracket portion for 360 rotation of the shank about the shank axis and is also mounted for swiveling movement of the shank to vary the angular disposition of the shank axis relative to the elongated bracket portion. Extending between a pair of blades is a rod having one end connected to the shank on a bracket of one blade and having another end connected to the shank on a bracket of the other blade.

Because the shanks are mounted in the manner described, the desired rotative movement of all the blades may be obtained whether or not the rotative axes of connected blades are parallel. Accordingly, precision assembling of the damper blades is not necessary. Furthermore, because a rod is connected to no more than two blades and because of the above-described manner in which a rod is connected to the blades, blades of differing widths may be connected While still obtaining rotative movement of the blades from fully closed to fully open 3,257,962 Patented August 23, 1966 positions for each without binding of or interference among the damper assembly components.

Because of the fact that the shanks are mounted for swiveling movement to vary the angular disposition of the shank axis relative to the elongated portion of the brackets, the brackets at opposite ends of a rod need not be precision aligned at identical locations on the respective blade ends to assure the desired connection of the rod ends. Because the shanks are mounted on the brackets for 360 rotative movement of a shank about the shank axis, binding on the part of the shanks is not likely, no matter the rotative position of the shank or of the blade to which the shank and its corresponding bracket are attached.

The above-described features eliminate the necessity of precision construction and installation either in the shop or in the field. Moreover, any individual blade can be removed in the field or in the duct in which the damper assembly has been installed, without completely disassembling the entire system.

Another feature of the present invention resides in damper assemblies utilizing at least three damper blades pivotally mounted to the damper frame in the manner described above. In this embodiment, there is mounted, on the middle of the three damper blades, a bracket arrangement including a pair of shanks each extending in a respective opposite direction from the elongated portion of the bracket with each shank located outwardly of the blade end to which the bracket is attached. Each shank is mounted on the elongated portion in the manner previously described. One shank is attached to an end of a rod extending to a first of the other blades and the other shank is attached to an end of a rod extending to a second of the other blades. An arrangement of this nature prevents the two rods, both attached to the same bracket, from interfering with each other during rotative movement of the three blades to which the two rods are attached. An arrangement of this nature also facilitates the utilization of other blades of differing widths.

A further embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides structure, to be described subsequently in detail, which acts as stop means to prevent rotation of the blades beyond a fully open position.

Other features and advantages are inherent in the structure claimed and disclosed or will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of an embodiment of a damper assembly, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with all the damper blades in closed positions;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIGURE 1 with the damper blades in partially open positions;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical elevational view, partially in section, of the embodiment of FIGURE 1 with the damper blades in partially open positions;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical elevational view, illustrating a pair of damper blades in fully opened positions;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIGURE 4 illustrating stop means for preventing rotative movement of the damper blades beyond a fully open position;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary front view, partially in section, of a portion of the damper assembly;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of a bracket and shank arrangement constituting a portion of a damper assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view of a bracket and shank arrangement as illustrated in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary plan view of another embodiment of a bracket and shank arrangement utilized in a damper assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view of the bracket and shank arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is an exploded perspective view of the bracket and shank arrangement illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10; and

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a frame assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring initially to FIGURES 1 through 4, there is generally indicated, at 30, an embodiment of a damper assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention. Damper assembly 36 includes a damper frame 31, generally rectangular in configuration, and a plurality of damper blades including end damper blades A and E, middle damper blade C, a fourth damper blade D and a fifth damper blade B. Blades A through E are mounted on frame 31 for rotation of the blades, about their respective axes, from the closed positions illustrated in FIGURE 1, wherein the blades are aligned in substantially planar relation, in the plane of frame 31, through the partially open positions illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, to fully open positions illustrated in FIGURE 4. In any of the open positions, blades A through E are disposed angularly relative to their respective closed positions; and in the fully open positions the blades extend substantially horiz'ontally, as viewed in FIGURE 4.

Mounting blades A through E to frame 31 are bearing pins 32 each extending from frame 31, received in a channel 33 in blades A through E, and retained therein by bearing straps 34. The blades rotate about the axes of their respective bearing pins 32.

Damper blades A and C are linked together by a rod 40 having one end attached to connecting means or arrangement 36 on damper blade A and the other end attached to connecting means 37 on damper blade C. Damper blades C and E are linked together by a rod 41 having one end attached to connecting means 37 on blade C and another end attached to connecting means 36 on damper blade E. Damper blades D and E are linked together by a rod 42 having one end attached to connecting means 38 located above the axis of damper blade E (astride channel 33) and another end attached to connecting means 39 on damper blade E. Damper blades D and B are linked together by a rod 43 having opposite ends attached to connecting means 36 on each of damper blades D and B.

It should be noted that all the connecting means 36 as well as connecting means 37 are located at an end 44 of a respective damper blade and extend outwardly therebeyond. Connecting means 39 is located inwardly of the ends 44 of its damper blade E.

Connected to an extension 132 of a bearing pin on damper blade A is an actuating handle 35. Movement of handle 35 causes rotation of damper blades A, C and E in a first rotative sense (e. g., in a counterclockwise sense from the closed positions illustrated in FIGURE 1 to the open positions illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3) while at the same time causing rotation of damper blades D and B in a second rotative sense, opposite said first rotative sense (e.g., in a clockwise direction from the closed to the open positions thereof, as viewed in FIGURES 1-3). All the blades are rotated from their closed to their open positions and vice versa at the same time due to the linkages constituting connecting means 3639 and rods 4643.

Connecting means 36 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGURES 6, 9, 10 and 11. Connecting means 37 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8.

Referring initially to FIGURES 6 and 9, connecting means 36 includes a bracket having a flange portion 50,

attached to a surface of a damper blade by any conventional means (e.g., rivets 53 in FIGURE 9), and an elongated or flange portion 51 extending beyond the end 44 of the blade to which the bracket is attached. Extending transversely from elongated bracket portion 51 is a shank 52 mounted on bracket portion 51 for 360 rotation of the shank about its axis 54 and for swiveling movement of the shank to vary the angular disposition of shank axis 54 relative to elongated bracket portion 51.

The shank mounts an end of a rod on the bracket at a location disposed outwardly of the blade end but no further outwardly than the outermost part of the elongated portion when the blade is in its open position (FIGS. 1 and 3).

The shank-mounting means is illustrated in greater detail in FIGURES 10 and 11 which show elongated bracket portion 51 to include, at the outermost end thereof, an embossment 56 having an opening 57. A socket member 58 includes a recess 59 which contacts the outer surface of embossment 56. Socket member 58 also includes a centrally disposed opening 60 which is coaxial with the opening 57 in embossment 56. Located on a side of elongated bracket portion 51 opposite that side on which is located socket member 58 is a bushing 62 including a portion 63 which extends through openings 57 and 60 in embossment 56 and socket member 58 respectively. Bushing 62 includes a centrally disposed opening 63 coaxial with the openings 57 and 66 in embossment 56 and socket member 58 respectively. Shank 52 includes a boss 61 which extends through openings 66, 57 and 63. An end 68 of boss 61 is punch-pressed back against bushing 62 to secure all of the elements 52, 58, 56 and 62 together. Shank 52 includes an opening 65 for receiving a rod (e.g., 41), and the outermost end of shank 52, opposite the end at which boss 61 extends, includes a threaded opening 66 for receiving a set screw 67 to engage the rod received in opening 65 and to secure the rod to connecting means 36.

Another embodiment of shank and mounting means therefor is illustrated in FIGURE 8, and in the center portion of FIGURE 6. Although the embodiment of FIGURE 8 is substantially similar in many ways to the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES l0 and 11, a material difference is that the shank (152 in FIGURE 8) includes an internally threaded opening 166 on the same side as a boss 161 and in communication with the open end 172 of boss 161. A screw 166 extends through opening 63 in bushing 62, opening 57 in embossment 56, opening 60 in socket member 58, and opening 171 in a washer 170 disposed between socket member 58 and shank 152, and into threaded opening 166 in shank 152. In this embodiment as in the embodiment of FIGURE 11 shank 152 also includes the usual opening for receiving a rod, and the boss end portion 168 is punch-pressed to hold the entire mounting means together.

Washer 170, composed of steel, is provided to minimize friction between socket member 58, which is generally composed of brass, and shank 152 which is generally composed of aluminum alloy.

Connecting means 37 differs from connecting means 36 only in that it includes a pair of shanks each extending in a respective opposite direction from elongated bracket portion 51, rather than a single shank as in connecting means 36. The embodiment of connecting means 37 illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7 includes a pair of shanks 152 and associated mounting means therefor as illustrated in FIGURE 8. No matter which embodiment of shank or mounting means therefor is utilized (i.e., either the structure illustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11 or the structure illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 8), both embodiments impart the same general function to the connecting means 36 or 37.

More specifically, because either shank 52 or 152 is capable of rotating about its axis through a full 360, and because the shank is swivelly mounted so as to enable variations in the angular disposition of the shank axis relative to elongated bracket portion 51, precision assembly of the various components in damper assembly 30 is not necessary. In other words, the various connecting means 36 or 37 need not be vertically aligned with each other because the swivelable mounting of the shanks will accommodate any misalignment. In addition, because the shanks are mounted for 360 rotation, binding on the part of the connecting means, which would prevent further movement of the damper blades, is avoided no matter the position to which the damper blades have been rotated.

An advantage of utilizing connecting means such as 37 on middle blade C is that the rods 40, 41 do not in any way interfere with each other, no matter the position to which blades A, C or E have been rotated. Furthermore, utilizing connecting means such as 36 or 37 together with rods that connect no more than two damper blades, enables the utilization of damper blades of varying widths.

With reference to connecting means 37, in a broad sense thi constitutes mounting means for two rods on one blade, at a location disposed outwardly of the blade end and includes: means mounting each of said rods for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis intersecting the axis of the rod and extending longitudinally relative to the axis of the blade; means for varying the angular disposition of said pivotal axis relative to the axis of the blade; and means for maintaining the rod in axially spaced relation.

Another advantage of utilizing connecting means 36, 37 is that the damper blades need not be precision assembled with the axes thereof (along channel 33) in parallel disposition. The fact that the shanks are mounted for both swivelling movement and rotative movement accommodates any misalignment of the axes of the various blades when the blades are in the process of being linked by their corresponding rods during installation of damper assembly 30.

Upon actuation of handle 35, the damper blades are rotated from the fully closed positions shown in FIG- URE 1 through the positions shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 to the fully open positions illustrated in FIGURE 4. It is desirable to prevent the blades from moving beyond the fully open positions shown in FIGURE 4, e.g., if blade D travels beyond its fully open position, blade B will not be able to pull blade D back. Accordingly, means are provided for preventing such undesirable continued rotation.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, attached to a surface 253 of blade D is a first flange portion 250 of a bracket including a second flange portion 251 to which a shank 254- is connected in the same manner as shank 152 is mounted on elongated bracket portion 51 in FIGURES 6 and 8. Shank 254 is engaged to rod 42 which includes an extended portion constituting stop means 252 which abuts surface 253 of blade D when the blades are in the fully open position illustrated in FIGURE 4. This prevents further rotation of blade D. Connecting means 38 and 39 on blades D and B respectively may be the same as connecting means 36 illustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11 or may have a shank and associated mounting means as shown in FIGURES 6 and 8.

As previously indicated, in the embodiment of frame assembly illustrated in FIGURE-S 1 through 4, blades A, C and E rotate in a first sense whereas blades B and D rotate in a second sense, opposite the sense in which blades A, B and E rotate. In the embodiment 330 illustrated in FIGURE 12, all of the blades, A through E, rotate in the same sense. In this embodiment end blades A and E utilize connecting means 36 whereas middle blades B, C and D utilize connecting means 37. More specifically, blades A and B are connected together by connecting means 36 on blade A, a rod 340, and connecting means 37 on blade B. Blades B and C are connected together by connecting means 37 on blade B, a rod 341 and connecting means 37 on blade C. Blades C and D are connected together by connecting means 37 on blade C, a rod 342 and connecting means 37 on blade D. Blades D and E are connected together by connecting means 37 on blade D, a rod 343 and connecting means 36 on blade E.

Damper assembly 330 has all the advantages of the damper assembly 30 illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4 and described above in detail.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearaness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a damper assembly:

a damper frame;

at least three damper blades including a pair of end blades and a middle blade;

means mounting said blades on said frame for pivotal movement of the blades between closed positions in which the blades are aligned in substantially planar relation and open positions in which the blades are angularly disposed relative to said closed positions;

a plurality of brackets each mounted on a respective blade and each having an elongated portion extending outwardly at an end of said blade;

a pair of shanks each extending transversely in a respective opposite direction from said elongated bracket portion on said middle blade at a location on the elongated portion disposed outwardly of said blade end;

means mounting each shank on said elongated portion for 360 rotation of the shank about the shank axis;

means mounting each shank on the elongated portion for swiveling movement of the shank to vary the angular disposition of the shank axis relative to the elongated bracket portion;

a pair of rods each extending between said middle blade and a respective one of said pair of end blades;

means for connecting one end of each rod to a respective shank;

and means for connecting the other end of each rod to a respective elongated bracket portion on one of said pair of end blades, at a location on the elongated portion disposed outwardly of said blade end.

2. In a damper assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein:

each rod is connected to no more than two damper blades.

3. In a damper assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said last recited connecting means comprises:

a shank extending transversely from said elongated bracket portion on the end blade at a location on the elongated portion disposed outwardly of said blade end;

means mounting said shank on the elongated bracket portion for 360 rotation of the shank about the shank axis;

and means mounting the shank at the elongated bracket portion for swiveling movement of the shank to vary the angular disposition of the shank axis relative to the elongated bracket portion.

,4. In a damper assembly as recited in claim 1, and

comprising:

a fourth blade located between said middle blade and one of said end blades;

means mounting said fourth blade on said frame for pivotal movement of said blade between a closed position in substantially planar relation with the other blades and a predetermined open position in Wh'lCh the fourth blade is angularly disposed relative to said closed position;

a bracket mounted on said fourth blade at the rotative axis thereof and including a flange portion extending transversely from said blade;

a shank extending transversely from said flange portion;

means mounting said last-recited shank on the flange portion for 360 rotation of said shank about the shank axis;

means mounting said last-recited shank on the flange portion for swiveling movement of the shank to vary the angular disposition of the shank axis relative to the flange portion;

a rod extending between said fourth blade and an adjacent one of the other blades;

means for connecting one end of said rod to said lastrecited shank;

and means on said adjacent blade for connecting the latter to the other end of said rod at a location on the adjacent blade inwardly of the ends thereof;

said rod including stop means at said one end thereof for abutting said fourth blade when the latter is in said predetermined open position to prevent rotative movement of said blades beyond said open posit-ions thereof.

5. In a damper assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said connecting means on the adjacent blade comprises:

a bracket mounted on said adjacent blade and including a portion extending transversely from said blade;

a shank extending transversely from said bracket portion;

means for engaging said shank to said other end of said last-recited rod;

means mounting said shank on said bracket portion for 360 rotation of said shank about said shank axis;

and means mounting said shank on the bracket portion for swiveling movement of the shank to vary the angular position of the shank axis relative to said bracket portion.

6. In a damper assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein:

each rod is connected to no more than two damper blades.

7. In a damper assembly:

a damper frame;

a damper blade;

means mounting said blade on said frame for pivotal movement of the blade between a closed position in which the blade lies substantially in the plane of the frame and an open position in which the blade is angularly disposed relative to said closed position;

a bracket mounted on said blade and having an elongated portion extending outwardly at an end of said blade;

a pair of shanks e-ach extending transversely in an opposite direction from said elongated bracket portion at a location on the elongated portion disposed outwardly of said blade end;

means mounting each shank on said elongated portion for 360 rotation of the shank about the shank axis;

means mounting each shank on the elongated portion for swiveling of the shank to vary the angular disposition of the shank axis relative to the elongated bracket portion;

a pair of rods each extending an an opposite direction relative to said blade;

and means for connecting one end of each rod to a respective shank.

8. In a damper assembly:

a damper frame;

a pair of blades;

means mounting saidbl'ades on said frame for pivotal movement of the blades between closed positions in which the blades are aligned in substantially planar relationship and open positions in which the blades are angularly disposed relative to said closed positions;

a bracket mounted on one of said blades at the rotative axis thereof and including a flange portion extending transversely from said blade;

a shank extending transversely from said flange portion;

means mounting said shank on the flange portion for 360 rotation of said shank about the shank axis;

means mounting said shank on the flange portion for swiveling movement of the shank to vary the angular disposition of the shank axis relative to the flange portion;

a rod extending between said one blade and the other of said pair of blades;

means for connecting one end of said rod to said shank;

and means on the other of said pair of blades for connecting the latter to the other end of said rod at a location on the other blade inwardly of the ends thereof;

said rod including stop means at said one end thereof for abutting said one blade when the latter is in said open position thereof to prevent rotative movement of said blades beyond said open positions thereof.

9. In a damper assembly:

a damper frame;

a pair of blades;

means mounting said blades on said frame for pivotal movement of the blades between closed positions in which the blades are aligned in substantially planar relationship and open positions in which the blades are angularly disposed relative to said closed positions;

a bracket mounted on one of said blades inwardly of the ends thereof and including a flange portion extending transversely from said blade;

a shank extending transversely from said flange portion; means mounting said shank on the flange portion for 360 rotation of said shank about the shank axis; means mounting said shank on the flange portion for swiveling movement of the shank to vary the angular disposition of the shank axis relative to the flange portion;

a rod extending between said one blade and the other of said pair of blades;

means for connecting one end of said rod to said shank;

and means on the other of said pair of blades for connecting the latter to the other end of said rod at a location on the other blade inwardly of the ends thereof.

10. In a damper assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said rod includes stop means at said one end thereof for abutting said one blade when the latter is in said open position thereof to prevent rotative movement of said blades beyond said open positions thereof.

11. In a damper assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said bracket is mounted on said one blade at the rotative axis thereof.

12. In a damper assembly:

a damper frame;

at least three damper blades including a pair of end blades and a middle blade;

means mounting said blades on said frame forpivotal movement of the blades, about respective blade axes, between closed positions in which the blades are aligned in substantially planar relation and open positions in which the blades are angularly disposed relative to said closed positions;

a plurality of bracket means each mounted on a respective blade and each having an elongated portion extending outwardly at an end of said blade;

a pair of rods each extending between said middle blade and a respective one of said pair of end blades;

means mounting one end of each of said rods on said bracket means on said middle blade and at a location disposed outwardly of said blade end;

said mounting means including means mounting each ofsaid rods for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis intersecting the axis of the rod and extending longitudinally relative to the axis of the blade;

said mounting means including means for varying the angular disposition of said pivotal axis relative to said blade axis;

said mounting means including means for maintaining said rods in axially spaced relation;

and means for connecting the other end of each rod to a respective bracket means on one of said pair of end blades and at a location disposed outwardly of the respective blade end.

13. In a damper assembly:

a damper frame;

a damper blade;

means mounting said blade on said frame for pivotal movement of the blade, about the blade axis, between a closed position in which the blade lies substantially in the plane of the frame and an open position in which the blade is angularly disposed relative to said closed position;

bracket means mounted on said blade and having an elongated portion extending outwardly at an end of said blade;

a pair of rods each extending in an opposite direction relative to said blade;

and means mounting one end of each of said rods on said bracket means on said blade and at a location disposed outwardly of said blade end;

said mounting means including means mounting each of said rods for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis intersecting the axis of the rod and extending longitudinally relative to the axis of the blade;

said mounting means including means for varying the angular disposition of said pivotal axis relative to the blade axis;

said mounting means including means for maintaining said rods in axially spaced relation.

14. In a damper assembly:

a damper frame;

a pair of blades;

means mounting said blades on said frame for pivotal movement of the blades, about respective blade axes, between closed positions in which the blades are aligned in substantially planar relationship and open positions in which the blades are angularly disposed relative to said closed positions;

bracket means mounted on one of said blades inwardly of the ends thereof;

a rod extending between said one blade and the other of said pair of blades;

means mounting one end of said rod on said bracket means;

said mounting means including means mounting said rod for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis intersecting the aXis of the rod and extending longitudinally relative to the axis of the blade;

said mounting means including means for varying the angular disposition of said pivotal axis relative to said axis of the blade;

and means on the other of said pair of blades for connecting said other blade to the other end of said rod at a location on the other blade inwardly of the ends thereof;

said rod including stop means at said one end thereof for abutting said one blade when the latter is in said open position thereof to prevent rotative movement of said blades beyond said open positions thereof.

15. In a damper assembly:

a damper frame;

a pair of blades;

means mounting said blades on said frame for pivotal movement of the blades, about respective blade axes, between closed positions in which the blades are aligned in substantially planar relationship and open positions in which the blades are angularly disposed relative to said closed positions;

bracket means mounted on one of said blades inwardly of the ends thereof;

a rod extending between said one blade and the other of said pair of blades;

means mounting one end of said rod on said bracket means;

and means on the other of said pair of blades for connecting said other blade to the other end of said rod at a location on the other blade inwardly of the ends thereof;

each of said mounting means including means mounting said rod for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis intersecting the axis of the rod and extending longitudinally relative to the axis of the blade;

each of said mounting means including means for varying the angular disposition of said pivotal axis relative to said axis of the blade.

16. In a damper assembly:

a damper frame;

a damper blade;

means mounting said blade on said frame for pivotal movement of the blade about the blade axes, between a closed position in which the blade lies substantially in the plane of the frame and an open position in which the blade is angularly disposed relative to said closed position;

bracket means mounted on said blade and having an elongated portion extending outwardly at an end of said blade;

a rod;

and means mounting one end of said rod on said bracket means at a location disposed outwardly of said blade end but no further outwardly than the outermost part of said elongated portion of the bracket means, when the blade is in said open position;

said mounting means including means mounting each of said rods for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis intersecting the axis of the rod and extending longitudinally relative to the axis of the blade;

said mounting means including means for varying the angular disposition of said pivotal axis relative to the blade axis.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 456,520 7/1891 Reese l8962 X 2,153,359 4/1939 Anderson l8962 X 3,017,899 l/l962 Goldsmith 137601 3,044,387 7/1962 Hi-nden 137-601 X WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner.

D. LAMBERT, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,267,962 August 23, 1966 Louis Josephson et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 12, for "clearaness" read clearness line 60, for "at" read on column 7, line 36, for "position" read disposition line 62, for "an", first occurrence, read in Signed and sealed this 1st day of August 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER, JR. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

9. IN A DAMPER ASSEMBLY: A DAMPER FRAME; A PAIR OF BLADES; MEANS MOUNTING SAID BLADES ON SAID FRAME FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE BLADES BETWEEN CLOSED POSITIONS IN WHICH THE BLADES ARE ALIGNED IN SUBSTANTILLY PLANAR RELATIONSHIP AND OPEN POSITIONS IN WHICH THE BLADES ARE ANGULARLY DISPOSED RELATIVE TO SAID CLOSED POSITIONS; A BRACKET MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID BLADES INWARDLY OF THE ENDS THEREOF AND INCLUDING A FLANGE PORTION EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY FROM SAID BLADE; A SHANK EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY FROM SAID FLANGE PORTION; MEANS MOUNTING SAID SHANK ON THE FLANGE PORTION FOR 360* ROTATION OF SAID SHANK ABOUT THE SHANK AXIS; MEANS MOUNTING SAID SHANK ON THE FLANGE PORTION FOR SWIVELING MOVEMENT OF THE SHANK TO VARY THE ANGULAR DISPOSITION OF THE SHANK AXIS RELATIVE TO THE FLANGE PORTION; A ROD EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID ONE BLADE AND THE OTHER OF SAID PAIR OF BLADES; MEANS FOR CONNECTING ONE END OF SAID RODS TO SAID SHANK; AND MEANS ON THE OTHER OF SAID PAIR OF BLADES FOR CONNECTING THE LATTER TO THE OTHER END OF SAID ROD AT A LOCATION ON THE OTHER BLADE INWARDLY OF THE ENDS THEREOF. 